Jason is from Ginoogaming First Nation, a Treaty #9 signatory in Northwestern Ontario. He takes his Aboriginal and Treaty rights very seriously and promotes a worldview shaped out on the family trapline at a young age.

Jason is an executive advisor with over 20 years of global experience in leading Indigenous community development and Corporate Indigenous relations strategies. and a proven track record for advancing major infrastructure projects and resource development.

He has deep knowledge of First Nations’ rights through his involvement in regulatory processes, permitting, complex tripartite negotiations between Indigenous communities, industry proponents, and governments. He is recognized as one of Canada’s top economic developers and has secured more than $750 million for capital projects, legacy infrastructure, and business expansion with Indigenous communities. He led establishment and administration of trust funds and wealth management vehicles for settlements and own source revenue generation, collectively managing close to a $1 Billion earmarked for First Nations’ beneficiaries. 

Jason has served on the boards of several Indigenous organizations and professional and non-profit associations and in 2019 he co-founded the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous business in the overall economy.

Ron is from North Caribou Lake First Nation, a Treaty #9 signatory in Northwestern Ontario. He is an advocate of indigenous community and economic development. He has provided advisory and consulting services to his home community for the past 10 years.

He has been a resource to the community leaders on projects that range from modernizing the corporate structure of the community owned business to project advisory services to initiate and complete the construction of a new community school.He has also provided indigenous community engagement services to a national corporation on a cross Canada infrastructure project. Ron gives back by serving on indigenous economic and business development nonprofit organizations.

Ron is currently the chair of the NADF, an indigenous financial institution that provides financing and grants to indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in northwestern Ontario. Ron is the Ontario Director for NACCA, the national organization that provides funding and other support services to all the indigenous financial institutions in Canada. Ron is fluent in the Oji-Cree dialect that is spoken in remote regions of northwestern Ontario. Ron can navigate challenging processes and facilitate meaningful discussions equally well in the remote north and corporate Canada.

Justin Jimmy, a proud member of Onion Lake Cree Nation, brings extensive experience spanning accountancy, Indigenous government, municipal governance, public and private entities, and not-for-profits. He leads Urban Cree Consulting, where his work focuses on building sustainable financial systems, fostering economic development, and promoting inclusivity and transparency in various organizations. His involvement in governance extends to serving on boards and committees, such as the Métis Settlements Development Corporation and the Strategic Aviation Advisory Committee, reflecting his dedication to advancing economic reconciliation for Indigenous communities. A CPA, CAFM, and ICD.D certified director, Justin leverages his financial expertise to help organizations reach their goals while ensuring strong governance practices. His journey also includes completing commercial flight training at the First Nations Technical Institute, obtaining his pilot’s license, and integrating his diverse skills into supporting Indigenous prosperity across Canada.

Cara Lenoir has dedicated over 15 years to the public service sector, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous initiatives, community engagement, and facilitation. She is passionate about facilitating conversations that promote self-determination for Nations across Canada and exploring emerging technologies. Currently, she is focusing on creating economic reconciliation pathways so that future generations can prosper economically while preserving their language and culture. She founded Naakah Solutions Inc. to foster reconciliation between government, industry, and Nations.

Cara Lenoir is a proud member of the Łıı́d́lı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and a descendant of the the K’atl’odeeche First Nation in Northwest Territories.

Maite Fink is a seasoned Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) based in Montreal, Quebec, and a bilingual expert with over 25 years of experience in financial management, audit, and business development. She holds an Executive MBA from the John Molson School of Business and a bachelor's in accounting from Université du Québec à Montréal. Maite has held leadership roles such as Director of Finance and Vice-President of Business Development, overseeing financial analysis, corporate controls, and strategic planning. She is well-versed in Canadian and international accounting standards, with a focus on risk management, financial audits, and compliance. Maite’s passion for supporting businesses extends to her advisory work with major investment projects and her volunteer efforts within Indigenous communities. She excels in driving organizational success through detailed financial analysis, strategic insights, and fostering collaborative work environments.

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Laurie Ingraham began her career as an addictions counselor and Director of a shelter for abused women, later establishing her own psychotherapy clinic, where she focused on treating various types of addictions for 15 years. Transitioning into environmental sciences, Laurie pursued PhD studies in Carbon Capture and Storage in the Oil and Gas industry at the University of Calgary and served as Director of Climate Change Research. In this role, she coordinated and disseminated climate change information, engaging with communities and government officials while studying sustainability reports and best practices.

Certified in Social Impact and Risk Assessments, Laurie continued her work as a Business Strategist for the City of Calgary, where she authored sustainability reports on carbon projections and led several projects, including the development of a project management best practices booklet. As a Climate Change Consultant, she focuses on knowledge sharing and climate adaptation, with a particular interest in wildfire prevention and its impact on Indigenous communities.

Laurie adopts a trauma-informed communication approach and strongly supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, advocating for a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on respect, rights, and partnership.

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Tejas has been active in the Canadian Arctic and Sub-Arctic region focusing on engineering, construction, mining, petroleum and infrastructure sectors; and specializes in investment attraction and corporate development of the organization. Most recently, he had worked as the Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Tlicho Investment Corporation, Yellowknife; and led the team to execute major infrastructure projects (including the $230 million Tlicho Highway Project). His focus at Tlicho Investment Corporation (TIC) was on the project deal flows and revenue generation in mining, construction, engineering, and supply chain divisions; and increasing the organization’s capacity in renewable energy.

Tejas started his career at Emerald Technology Ventures, Toronto analyzing technologies and companies focusing in smart grids, clean energy, advanced materials and water technologies. One of the Emerald’s portfolio companies – RuggedCom was acquired by Siemens for $382 million. Tejas also worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories as the Specialist for Mineral Investments, and during his tenure of attracting investments to NWT mineral industry, De Beers Canada Inc. and Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. opened world’s newest and one of the biggest diamond mine (Gahcho Kué mine) with capital costs $970 million.

Additionally, Tejas sits on the Board of Directors for American Chamber of Commerce – Canada West; and Foresight Cleantech Accelerator as an Executive in Residence. Tejas holds a Master of Business Administration from Vancouver Island University, Canada; and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India.

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Maxwell Dickomeit is a proud member of the Ginoogaming First Nation, practicing as an Indigenous business professional and creative designer within Ontario. Passionate about communication and representation, Maxwell utilizes ingenuity and innovation to develop thoughtful visual solutions that drive positive, formidable results.

Maxwell has widespread experience in marketing, design, communication, and brand strategy across industries, directly supporting local government, not-for-profits, and small businesses. Maxwell’s background as a creative professional has been cultivated through fine arts and an understanding of cultural representation's importance in amplifying underrepresented voices.

Maxwell holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration, awarded in 2024, alongside a designated specialization in Marketing and Consumer Culture. Maxwell also holds an Advanced Diploma in Visual Communications, obtained in 2017. Maxwell has numerous educational achievements, such as the President’s Honour Roll for academic excellence.